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Harivaṃśa
35. Vasudeva's family
VAISHAMPAYANA said:—Of the fourteen beautiful wives of Vasudeva, Rohini, of Puru's race, was the first Madirā, the second, Vaishākhi the third, Bhadrā the fourth,
Sunāmā the fifth, Sahadevā the sixth, Devaki the seventh, Shāntidevā the eighth, Shridevā the ninth, Devarakshitā the tenth, Vrikadevi the eleventh,
Upadevi the twelth, Sutanu the thirteenth, and Badarvā the fourteenth. The last two were his female attendants (1–3).
Rohini, of Puru's race, was the daughter of Vālhika. O king, she was the first and most beloved wife of Anākadundhuvi (4).
Vasudeva begat on Rohini his eldest son Rāma, Shārana, Shatha, Durdhama, Damana, Swabhra, Pindāraka, Ushinara, and a daughter by name Chitrā. O descendant of Kuru, it was Chitrā who passed by the name of Subhadrā (5–6).
Vasudeva begat on Devaki the highly illustrious Shouri.1 Rāma begat on Revati his beloved son Nishatha. Arjuna begat on Subhadrā the mighty car-warrior Abhimanyu. Akrura begat Satyaketu on the daughter of the king of Kāshi (7-8).
Hear, now, of the heroic sons whom Vasudeva begat on his seven noble wives (9).
Bhoja and Viyaya were the sons of Shāntideva. Vrikadeva and Gada were the sons of Sunāmā (10).
Devarakshitā obtained Upāsangavara as his son. Vrikadevi, the daughter of the Trigarta king, gave birth to the high-souled Agāvaha.
His priest Shaishirāyana once grew desirous of testing the manhood (of his brother-in-law Gārgya, the priest of the Yādavas) (11–12).
On account of a false charge being laid home to him2 Gārgya was filled with anger and remained like black iron for twelve years (13).
He then began to live with a cow-herd's daughter. A nymph, by name Gopāli, came to him in this guise (14).
By the command of Shulapāni3 Gārgya, made his human wife concieve, the embryo whereof was irreprersible and never to die (15).
She gave birth to a highly powerful king by name Kālayavana. Horses, having their heads like those of bulls, used to carry him in battle (16).
O king that child grew up in the city of the king of Yavanas4 who had no issue. And accordingly he was named Kālayavana (17).
Growing desirous of entering into a battle that king questioned the twice born ones. Thereat the omniscient Nārada asked him to fight with the members of Vrishni and Andhaka families (18).
Thereupon starting for Mathurā with one Akshouhini5 soldiers Kālayavana sent his messenger to the house of Vrishnis and Andhakas (19).
Thereupon being united the Vrishnis and Andhakas, making the highly intelligent Krishna their president, held a conference in fear of Kālayavana (20).
Then honoring Pināki6 they resolved upon flying away from the charming citv of Mathurā and thought of settling
down in Kushasthali Dwarkā.7
He, who being pure and self-controlled, listens to the story of Krishna's birth, becomes learned, happy and freed from debts (21–22).
Footnotes
1. A name of Krishna.
2. The sentences are very elliptical. The purport is, Saishirayana put his brother-in-law Gargya to test and found him self-controlled. He however put a wrong construction on this fact and thought that he had no manhood in him. This enraged Gargya very much whose anger was pacified after twelve years.
3. A name of Siva. The word literally means one who has a mace in his hand.
4. A class of non-Aryans. The nymph Gopali, after giving birth to that son, left the king.
5. A complete army consisting of 1,09,350 foot, 65610 horses, 21870 chariots, and 21,870 elephants.
6. A name of Siva. Literally it means the holder of Pinaka, a trident or three-pronged spear.
7. warka situated in the country of Kanyakubja or Kanouj.
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